Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88010 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88010 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Ornix
She sobs in place, shedding tears that might show contrition for her misbehavior, but also that might merely show that she is sad she was punished.
I have no intention of spoiling my mate, little human wretch with a penchant for mischief that she is. My intention is to discipline her into a kind of mate who will be happy, well behaved, and most of all, appropriate.
She is chastised, and she is sorry for herself, and I am sure she thinks I am a monster for treating her this way, but she needs her dose of seed.
I slap her bottom, knowing it will reignite the sting, and similarly knowing she deserves it. She must be taught never to run, and though I have whipped and fucked her thoroughly, I am afraid I have still not made enough of an impression. She has not chosen to be here, and that makes even this wingless little creature a flight risk.
She lets out a little whine, a pitiful sound. If I take pity on her, it might show her that I can be merciful, but I do not know if mercy is what she needs so much as discipline. Harsh discipline. The kind that does not allow for any misbehavior at all.
It’s not what I wanted to do, but finding myself in the middle of a forest is not where I wanted to be either. I have to do what needs to be done, and if a few harsh whippings and rough matings are what is necessary to ensure she understands the virtues of obedience, then that is what I will do.
I hear a soft sob, and what follows is a deep sense of guilt. I was harsh with her. Rough with her. I am sure she will be feeling the effects of my punishment inside and out for hours and maybe days to come.
This was her second breeding. Another must take place within a relatively short period of time to ensure she gains the full protective effects of my seed. That is going to be difficult to achieve without hurting her now.
Hm.
Should have thought of that.
The fear I felt when I saw her on the precipice of being hacked to death was more primal than any I have felt before. In truth, I do not think I have truly known fear before this moment. I have never had anything precious to lose before. My reign in the kingdom has been largely peaceful, and I have never been as attached to my life as I am to hers.
She has become everything to me, instantly, all at once. We are bonded deeply, and we are becoming deeper and deeper evermore connected.
When the third breeding takes place, I will worry a little less, but not entirely. It will stop her from aging, but it will not stop her from being smacked in the head with a rusty bludgeon.
Her sense of self-preservation must be bolstered. She must be taught to stay far from danger, to never allow herself to be in a position where she can be badly hurt. I can do this only through the harshest discipline. I would rather she hated me every day of my life and hers than ever put herself in this position again.
I reach out, scruff her by the back of the neck to pull her away from the tree, and pull her skirt down into a semblance of propriety. She isn’t even dressed for the weather. A decent frost could have taken her out.
“I cannot safely bring you and the horse back in my dragon-flight form, and I will not abandon the faithful beast for the actions of a faithless one. So you and I will go back on foot. All three of us, together. You, me, and Otto.”
“The horse’s name is Otto?” She sniffs adorably as she asks the question.
“What else would he be called?”
“I don’t know.”
“His name is Otto, he is native to the icy climes of our world, and he is worth more than I care to mention.”
“Oh,” she says. “I’m sorry. I would have stolen a less valuable horse if I had known.”
“You should not have stolen any horse at all. You should never have come here. This forest is dangerous. Even I do not like walking in it. Now come here.”
I go to each of the charred bodies and pick out the offerings hidden within. There is a bow, which she does not know how to use, and which is made of cheap wood. There is also a leather jerkin, cloth gloves, and a pair of plate grieves. I also find a dagger.
I hesitate. I do not want to arm this woman who does not know how to handle any kind of weapon at all, but it might be more dangerous not to arm her.
I look over my shoulder and see her standing there, staring at me with incredibly wide eyes.